Vestibule oae



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. W F. RICHARDS.

VBSTIBULB GAR.

Patented Sept. 25, 1894.

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(No Model.)

2 Sheets-$heet 2. w. P. RICHARDS.

v VESTIBULE GAR.

I lNVENTOB.

Patented Sept. 2 1894- UNITED STATES 1 l PATENT OFF CE.

WILLARD F. RICHARDS, OF BUFFALO, ASSIGNOB TO THE GOULD COUPLER COMPANY, OF Nnw YORK, N. Y.

VESTIBULE-CAR.

SPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 526,540, dated September 25, 1894.

Application filed January 12, 1894. Serial No. 496,605. (No model.)

To to whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLARD F. RICHARDS,

a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in vestibule-Oars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the flexible hoods or extensions which are arranged at the ends of the vestibule cars and which form closed passage ways between the cars. These hoods are usually constructed of flexible material which is plaited in the form of accordion or bellows folds. When the face plate attached to the outer end of the hood advances to its outward limit bythe separation of the cars, as, for instance,in rounding a curve the folds of the hood are more or less stretched or straightened out and when theface plate again recedes, the folds frequently fail to collapse properly, in which case the hood buckles or bulges, causing it to interfere with the movements of the face plate and rendering it un- 3 5 lar section showing the position of the parts when the face plate is moved laterally in rounding a curve. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section in line 3-3 Fig. 1. .Fig. at is a vertical cross-section in line 4-4. Fig. 1 p

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the end wall of the vestibule; B, one of the stiles or upright members of the face plate andO the accordion hood of leather, rubber or other flexible material, which is attached atits inner end to the end wall of the vestibule and at its outer end to the rear side of the face plate by screws or other suitable 5o fastenings.

In the drawings, a double hood is shown,

but my improvement is also applicable to a single hood.

D D are longitudinal guide rods preferably arranged adjacent to the inner side of the hood and each provided at its ends with heads or knuckles d which are seated loosely in sockets e and 6, arranged respectively on the rear side of the face plate and the end wallof the vestibule and forming with said heads univer- 6o sal or ball and socket joints. These rods connect the face plate with said end wall and their end joints enable them to accommodate themselves to the lateral as well as the rising and falling motion of the face plate. In order to 6 permit these rods to lengthen and shorten as the face plate advances and recedes, they are constructed of telescopic sections, one of which (1 is hollow and receives the inner portion of the other section, as shown in the drawings. The rear socket e of each guide rod is provided in its bottom with an opening e and the adjacent wall of the vestibule is formed with an opening f arranged in line with the opening of the socket. These open- 7 ings permit the front section of th e rod to slide inward beyond the rear socket, and in order to afford the requisite play or oscillation of such section in all directions they are both flared rearwardly as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

g represents a series of retaining eyes or loops which is attached to the folds of the hood on the inner side of the latter, and which loosely embrace the guide rods D, so as to slide freely thereon, as the folds expand and 8 5 contract. These loops are preferably of the construction shown, being approximately U- shaped and having their legs fastened to opposite faces of the same fold, by cementing, riveting or other suitable means. The legs 0 of the loops are bent in opposite directions and at the proper angle to 'lie flat against the sides of the folds, as shown. Those loops which surround the enlarged hollow section of the guide rod are made larger than those 5 which embrace the solid or sliding section and to permit such loops to slide without restraint from the solid section upon the larger hollow section, the front end of the hollow section is tapered, as shown. As the guide rods are in 10c flexible and the folds of the hood are connected therewith, they are always confined within their proper folding limits in all of the various positions assumed by the hood, and although the'fold'sare free to expandand'com tract in accordance with the inward and outward movements of the face plate, they are iaffectually prevented from bulging or buckmg. rods may be employed but in order tojke ep the folds reliably in alignment from the top to the bottom of the hood, they should be arranged at comparatively short intervals, say about a foot and a half apart.

In the construction shown in the drawings a retaining loop is attached to every inward fold of the hood, but if preferred, theloops may be attached only to alternate folds.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination with a folding vestibule hood, of a guide rod extending across the folds of the hood and connected therewith, the folds being held against lateral displacement by the guide rod but free to move lengthwise of the rod, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a folding vestibule hood, of a guide rod extending across the folds of the hood, and retaining eyes or loops attached to the folds and arranged on the guide rod, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with the car vestibule and the upright face plate, of'a folding hood connecting saidface plate with the end of the vestibule, an extensibleguid'e rod attached at its ends to the face plate and vestibule respectively, and retaining eyes or loops secured to the folds of the hood and sliding upon said rod, substantially as set forth. Any desired number of these guide l 4. The-combination with the car vestibule .and'the upright face plate, of a folding hood connecting said face plate with the end of the guide rod, substantially as 5. The combination with the end wall of the vestibule having a socket providedwith an,

opening in its bottom, of a folding hood, at telescopic guide rod having a hollow rear section adapted to coincide with the bottom opening of said socket, whereby the front section of I the rod is allowed to slide rearwardly through said socket, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 23d day of December, 1893.

WILLARD F. RICHARDS.

Witnesses:

CARL F. GEYER, JNO. J. BONNER. 

